Hamiet Bluiett - Bearer of the Holy Flame (Full Album)

A great set from Hamiet Bluiett – almost back to his roots in the St Louis underground scene, as the album’s a live recording of long spiritual jazz tracks, arguably a lot more compelling than most of Bluiett’s studio work from the time! The album was recorded at Sweet Basil in 1983 – with a group that features John Hicks on piano, Fred Hopkins on bass, Marvin Smitty Smith on drums, and Chief Bey playing some extra African percussion. Bluiett’s tone is wonderful – deep and round, but also raspy, almost in the manner of Pharoah Sanders – and the group plays an incredible version of Wayne Shorter’s “Footprints“, a nice take on Curtis Lundy’s “Gumbo“, and the cuts “Song Song“, “Ebu“, and “Headless Blues“. 1 Footprints 2 EBU 3 Song Song 4 Headless Blues 5 I’ll Close My Eyes 6 Gumbo (Vegetarian Style) Baritone Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute – Hamiet Bluiett Bass – Fred Hopkins Drums – Marvin “Smi